Most of the time, dog ownership is a joy, but some pets can be a little more challenging. If you want to get the most out of the time you have with your dog, you need to educate yourself. Keep reading for some helpful advice on becoming a great dog owner.
It can be quite costly to own a dog. Dogs need good food, medical care and other supplies. This can add up to $500-$1000 a year. Emergency visits to the vet can cost thousands, so you may want to invest in health insurance for your dog.
Your dog needs annual medical exams. Since your dog doesn’t talk, you may have difficulty figuring out if a tooth starts hurting or where arthritis is developing. Making an annual trip to the vet is the best way to discover and deal with these kinds of problems when they’re still manageable.
If you’re on any kind of medication, even if it’s over-the-counter, you need to keep it away from your dog. Swallowing a couple pills could can serious health issues, even heart attacks and seizures. If your dog happens to get into any such pills, call your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately.
When it comes to dog flea treatments, you should proceed with caution. A large number of them contain high doses of carcinogens and other hazardous ingredients. Discuss any concerns with your veterinarian, and see if he has more holistic treatment options that might help to keep your pet free from fleas and your family safe.
Don’t give in to the urge to feed your dog food meant for humans. This will make him want human food every time you have a meal. Table scraps can be bad for his health as well, leading to obesity and digestive disorders. Keep the dog away from your table when you eat to avoid any temptation on both parts.
You need to ask your vet to make sure the food you are feeding them is good. A puppy’s stomach may not be able to properly digest certain brands, sometimes causing an adverse reaction. Be cautious about what types of foods you feed your dog.
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, he needs a dog house. Remember that dogs exposed to cold and damp or excessive heat are far more likely to become ill. Your dog needs a space that is dry and provides him with adequate shelter.
Bad Behavior
Correct your dog’s bad behavior immediately. Turning a blind eye to it just makes it harder to fix down the road. Not only will it be difficult to curb the bad behavior, he can pose physical harm to you or someone you love.
Lots of things are required from good dog owners. Bringing him home is only the start of the journey. Owning a dog requires a person to be responsible when caring for it. Improve the quality of your pet’s life (and your own!) by making use of the handy advice you’ve received here.
You need to learn all you can about the topic you’re interested in. Begin planning how you can incorporate the knowledge learned from this article into your life. Having studied this article, you are sure to do well.